Reusable cable tie

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a tie and a method for tying at least one object. More particularly, the tie has a strip, which includes a tip, a connecting end opposite the tip and a plurality of teeth arranged on the strip between the tip and the connecting end, and a plurality of locking members, which are connected to the connecting end of the strip. Each of the locking members includes an opening for passage of the strip therethrough and a locking tab for engaging at least one of the teeth so as to allow the strip to move through the opening of a corresponding one of the locking members only in one direction. The method includes the steps of placing the tie around at least one object; passing the strip through the opening of a first one of the locking members in the one direction such that the tie wraps around the at least one object; and disconnecting the first one of the locking members from the connecting end of the strip while leaving at least another one of the locking members connected to the connecting end such that the tie can be reused for tying another object.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tie device for use in tying at leastone object and, more particularly, a reusable tying device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cable ties have been known in the past (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos.7,131,168 and 8,474,104 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2007/0234524). Many of these ties are used once and then thrown away.Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a reusable cable tie.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment, the present invention provides amethod of using a tie for tying at least one object. More particularly,the tie is equipped with a strip, which includes a tip, a connecting endopposite the tip, and a plurality of teeth arranged on the strip betweenthe tip and the connecting end. A locking head is connected to theconnecting end of the strip and includes a plurality of locking membersfor engaging the strip. A first one of the locking members is locatedadjacent the connecting end of the strip, while a second one of thelocking members is located remotely from the connecting end of thestrip. Each of the locking members includes an opening for passage ofthe strip therethrough and a locking tab for allowing the strip to movethrough the opening of a corresponding one of the locking members onlyin one direction. The locking head also includes at least one connectorconnecting each of the locking members to an adjacent one of the lockingmembers. The method includes the steps of placing the tie around the atleast one object; and passing the strip through the opening of thesecond one of the locking members in the one direction so as to tie theat least one object. The method also includes the steps of cutting orseparating the connector connecting the second one of the lockingmembers to an adjacent one of the locking members, thereby disconnectingthe second one of the locking members from the locking head; and movingthe second one of the locking members along the strip toward theconnecting end of the strip for subsequent use of the tie.

Another embodiment of the present invention involves providing a striphaving a tip, a connecting end opposite the tip and a plurality of teetharranged on the strip between the tip and the connecting end. The tiealso includes a locking head connected to the connecting end of thestrip. The locking head has a free end opposite the strip and includes aplurality of locking members arranged linearly or in parallel along thelocking head. Each of the locking members is provided with a singleopening for passage of the strip therethrough and includes an entryside, through which the tip of the strip is inserted into acorresponding one of the openings, and an exit side, through which thetip of the strip exits from a corresponding one of the openings. Each ofthe locking members is constructed such that the strip can pass througha selected one of the openings only in one direction. The lockingmembers are arranged such that all of the entry sides of the lockingmembers are located on the same side of the locking head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference ismade to the following detailed description of an exemplary embodimentconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cable tie constructed in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an in-use schematic, partial cross-sectional view of the cabletie of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cable tie of FIG. 1after its initial use; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cable tie of FIG. 1, illustratingits subsequent use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a cable tie 10 constructed in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. More particularly, the tie 10includes a strip 12 having an insertion tip 14 a at one end thereof, aconnecting end 14 b opposite the tip 14 a, and a pair of sides 16, 18.Teeth 20 are provided on the side 16 of the strip 12 along substantiallythe entire length thereof.

Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the tie 10 also includes a locking head22 attached to the connecting end 14 b of the strip 12 opposite theinsertion tip 14 a. The locking head 22 includes a plurality of lockingmembers 24 a-24 d, which are identical to each other in construction andoperation. The locking members 24 a-24 d are constructed in a mannersimilar to that of locking members in conventional cable ties. Examplesof conventional cable ties are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,131,168and 8,474,104 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0234524,the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

The locking members 24 a-24 d are arranged linearly or in parallel alongthe locking head 22 such that the locking member 24 d is positionedfarthest away from the tip 14 a of the strip 12, while the lockingmember 24 a is located closest to same. As a result, the locking member24 d is positioned at an end of the tie 10 opposite the tip 14 a, whilethe locking member 24 a is connected to the connecting end 14 b of thestrip 12. The locking members 24 b, 24 c are positioned between thelocking members 24 a, 24 d. Each of the locking members 24 a-24 d isconnected, either directly or indirectly, to the connecting end 14 b ofthe strip 12.

Each of the locking members 24 a-24 d is provided with an insertion side26, an opposite exit side 28 (see FIG. 2). In addition, each of thelocking member 24 a-24 d includes a single channel or opening 30extending between a corresponding pair of the insertion sides 26 and theexit sides 28 of the locking members 24 a-24 d. Each of the channels 30of the locking members 24 a-24 d is sized and shaped such that theinsertion tip 14 a of the strip 12 can be inserted into the channel 30from its associated entry side 26 and exit therefrom from its associatedexit side 28. In one embodiment, all of the entry sides 26 of thelocking members 24 a-24 d are positioned on the same side of the lockinghead 22.

A locking tab 32 projects into each of the channels 30 of the lockingmembers 24 a-24 d for engaging one or more of the teeth 20 of the strip12. The locking tab 32 of each of the locking members 24 a-24 d isflexible so as to allow the strip 12 to move only in one direction (asindicated by Arrow A in FIG. 2) such that the strip 12 can be locked inplace with a selected one of the locking members 24 a-24 d. In oneembodiment, each of the locking tabs 32 is provided only on one side ofa corresponding one of the channels 30 of the locking members 24 a-24 d(i.e., either sides 30 a of the channels 30 proximate the connecting end14 b of the strip 12 or sides 30 b of the channels 30 remote from theconnecting end 14 b of the strip 12). In another embodiment, the lockingtabs 32 can be provided on both sides of the channels 30, in which casethe teeth 20 are provided on both of the sides 16, 18 of the strip 12for engaging the locking tabs 32.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the locking members 24 a-24 dis connected to an adjacent one of the locking members 24 a-24 d by aconnector 34. Each of the connectors 34 is provided with a sufficientstrength to withstand the force needed when the cable tie 10 is used intying cables (or an object or objects) tightly. Each of the connectors34 is adapted so as to be cut with a cutting tool, such as scissors, aknife, etc., or otherwise disconnected.

As shown in FIG. 1, the entire tie 10 can be constructed as a single,integrally molded piece and made from any suitable conventionalmaterial, such as plastic. The tie 10, including the locking head 22, isflexible such that it can wrap around a group of cables (or an object orobjects) for securing same. Alternatively, the various components of thetie 10 (e.g., the strip 12, the locking head 22, etc.) can be madeseparately and then attached to each other.

In order to tie cables together, the tie 10 is placed around cables B(only two of which are shown in FIG. 2 in broken-line representation) ina conventional manner. The tip 14 a of the tie 10 is then inserted intothe channel 30 of the locking member 24 d (i.e., the locking memberwhich is located the farthest from the tip 14 a when the tie 10 is inits linear orientation as shown in FIG. 1). Thereafter, the strip 12 ispulled through the locking head 24 d until the tie 10 wraps tightlyaround the cables B.

To release the cables B from the tie 10, the connector 34 connecting thelocking member 24 d to its adjacent locking member (i.e., the lockingmember 24 c) is cut such that only the locking member 24 d is separatedor disconnected from the rest of the locking head 22, causing the tie 10to release. Once released, the locking member 24 d is moved along thestrip 12 toward the locking head 22 (as indicated by arrow C in FIG. 3)such that it is positioned at or adjacent the connecting end 14 b of thestrip 12 proximate the locking member 24 a (i.e., the locking memberwhich is located closest to the strip 12). Throughout such movement, thelocking member 24 d is engaged with the strip 12. Because the lockingmembers 24 a-24 c remain on the locking head 22, the tie 10 can bereused to tie cables or other objects in basically the same mannerdiscussed above (e.g., by inserting the strip 12 through the lockingmember which is the farthest from the tip 14 a, namely the lockingmember 24 c as illustrated in FIG. 4).

It should be noted that the present invention may have manymodifications and variations. For instance, the tie 10 can be providedwith any number of locking members (e.g., two or more). Moreover, thetie 10 can be used to hold together objects other than cables. In oneembodiment, each of the locking members 24 a-24 d can be formed as amember that is separate and distinct from one another and connecteddirectly to the connecting end 14 b of the strip 12 by a separate andindependent connector. As a result, the locking members 24 a-24 d inthis embodiment are not connected to one another and do not thereforeform a single, integral, linear locking head.

It will be understood that the embodiments described herein are merelyexemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variationsand modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. All such variations and modifications are intended to beincluded within the scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

1. A method of using a tie, the tie having a strip, which includes atip, a connecting end opposite the tip and a plurality of teeth arrangedon the strip between the tip and the connecting end, and a plurality oflocking members, which are connected to the connecting end of the strip,each of the locking members including an opening for passage of thestrip therethrough and a locking tab for engaging at least one of theteeth so as to allow the strip to move through the opening of acorresponding one of the locking members only in one direction, saidmethod comprising the steps of: placing the tie around at least oneobject; passing the strip through the opening of a first one of thelocking members in the one direction such that the tie wraps around theat least one object; and disconnecting the first one of the lockingmembers from the connecting end of the strip while leaving at leastanother one of the locking members connected to the connecting end ofthe strip such that the tie can be reused for tying another object. 2.The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of moving the firstone of the locking members along the strip toward the connecting end ofthe strip for subsequent use of the tie.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein the locking members are formed as a single locking headconnected to the connecting end of the strip, the at least another oneof the locking members includes a second one of the locking members, thefirst one of the locking members being positioned remotely from theconnecting end of the strip, the second one of the locking members beingpositioned adjacent the connecting end of the strip, the locking headincluding at least one connector connecting each of the locking membersto an adjacent one of the locking members.
 4. The method of claim 3,wherein the at least another one of the locking members includes a thirdone of the locking members, the second one of the locking members beingconnected to the connecting end of the strip, the third one of thelocking members being positioned between the first one and second one ofthe locking members.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at leastanother one of the locking members includes a fourth one of the lockingmembers, the fourth one of the locking members being positioned betweenthe first one and third one of the locking members.
 6. The method ofclaim 3, wherein the tie has an end opposite the tip of the strip, thefirst one of the locking members being located at the end of the tie. 7.The method of claim 3, wherein said disconnecting step includes the stepof separating at or cutting the connector connecting the first one ofthe locking members to an adjacent one of the locking members, therebydisconnecting the first one of the locking members from the lockinghead.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first one of the lockingmembers is connected to the connecting end of the strip via the at leastanother one of the locking members.
 9. The method of claim 2, whereinthe first one of the locking members is engaged with the stripthroughout the performance of said moving step; and wherein said movingstep includes the step of positioning the first one of the lockingmembers at the connecting end of the strip.
 10. The method of claim 1,further comprising the steps of placing the tie around at least oneother object; and passing the strip through the opening of the at leastanother one of the locking members in the one direction such that thetie wraps around the at least one other object.
 11. The method of claim1, wherein said passing step includes the steps of inserting the tip ofthe strip through the opening of the first one of the locking membersand tightening the tie around the at least one object.
 12. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one object includes a plurality of cables.13. A tie for tying at least one object, comprising: a strip having atip, a connecting end opposite said tip and a plurality of teetharranged on said strip between said tip and said connecting end; and alocking head connected to said connecting end of said strip, saidlocking head having a free end opposite said strip and including aplurality of locking members arranged linearly along said locking head,each of said locking members having a single opening for passage of saidstrip therethrough, each of said locking members including an entryside, through which said tip of said strip is inserted into acorresponding one of said openings, and an exit side, through which saidtip of said strip exits from a corresponding one of said openings, eachof said locking members being constructed such that said strip can passthrough a selected one of said openings only in one direction, saidlocking members being arranged such that all of the said entry sides ofthe locking members are located on the same side of said locking head.14. The tie of claim 13, wherein said locking members include a firstlocking member, which is located adjacent said connecting end of saidstrip, and a second locking member, which is located remotely from saidconnecting end of said strip.
 15. The tie of claim 14, wherein saidlocking members include at least one additional locking memberpositioned between said first and second locking members.
 16. The tie ofclaim 15, wherein said locking head includes at least one connectorconnecting each of said locking members to an adjacent one of saidlocking members.
 17. The tie of claim 16, wherein said at least oneconnector is configured such that it can be cut with the use of acutting tool or a disconnecting mechanism.
 18. The tie of claim 13,wherein each of the openings of said locking members includes a firstside proximate said connecting end of said strip and a second sideremote from said connecting end of said strip, each of said lockingmembers having a locking tab positioned only on the first side of acorresponding one of the openings of the locking members.
 19. The tie ofclaim 13, wherein each of the openings of said locking members includesa first side proximate said connecting end of said strip and a secondside remote from said connecting end of said strip, each of said lockingmembers having a locking tab positioned only on the second side of acorresponding one of the openings of the locking members.